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Mauritania
Index
During the period of civilian government, women were most
successful in fulfilling their political demands through the
party. Although the constitution guaranteed equality before the
law and full rights of political participation, traditional
practices effectively denied women any major role in political
life. To elicit the support of women, the PPM created the
National Union of Mauritanian Women in 1961. At first oriented
only toward such typically feminine issues as health, nutrition,
and education, by 1964 it had become the women's political arm of
the PPM and was renamed the National Women's Movement (Mouvement
National Féminin). The organization of the women's movement
paralleled that of the PPM, with local committees, sections, and
federations, and was headed by an elected bureau. At each level
in the hierarchy, an official of the women's organization
participated as an ex officio member of the respective PPM
bureau. Although most women were far from achieving political
equality with men, they were able to bring about change in
response to some of their demands.
Over the years, several political functions helped to improve
the lot of women. The PPM party congress at Kaédi in 1964
condemned abuses of divorce and doweries. The congress at `Ayoûn
el `Atroûs in 1966 made provisions for the support of dependent
children who remained with their mothers following a divorce and
created the Superior Council for Women (Conseil Supérieur des
Femmes), which operated the National Women's Movement. At the
Nouakchott party congress in 1968, women's issues received
significant attention. The 300 participants, including 11 women,
called for the obligatory registration of marriages and divorces
to protect women, the enactment of laws to discourage polygyny,
limits on the size of dowries, and a code to protect women's
rights. In the 1971 elections, two women were elected to the
previously all-male National Assembly, and one, Aissatou Kane,
was named minister of health and social affairs, becoming the
first woman to serve in the government. She remained in office
until the 1978 coup.
The pace of change improved under the military government as
more women enrolled in schools and joined the labor force. In May
1987, in what was a remarkable step for Mauritania, President
Taya named three women to cabinet-level posts to "correct
countless managerial mistakes committed in the past." Khadijatou
Bint Ahmed of Boutilimit was appointed minister of mines and
industries. Lalla Mariam Bint Moulaye was appointed associate
director of the presidential cabinet, and N'Deye Tabar Fall
became general secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social
Affairs.
Data as of June 1988
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